A Change of Heart - Chapter 3

Seth's P.O.V.

It's already lunchtime and Kayla was still in the classroom. I wanted to tell her to get the project idea ready because the teacher, apparently Mr. Berning was his name, has been asking me over and over again for it. But seeing that Kayla was in trouble, I decided to wait until later. That teacher looked pretty mean.

I walked in the direction I came from and was searching for the cafeteria when she came out. Her face was flushed and she was mumbling something to herself. Then she looked to the side and spotted me. Her eyes widened and I turned to leave. She didn't move. Good.

Now, off to find the cafeteria.

From the outside, the school looks small, I practically scoffed. But looking for the cafeteria felt like I was traveling to the other side of the world. The corridors were already empty, so looking for it was going to be a challenge. I turned to another hallway, then another, and another, and finally found myself in the same spot as I started out.

I looked around, dazed. Then I heard some noises from the floor below. I spotted some stairs leading downstairs and decided to go there. The lower I got, the louder the noises got. By the time I reached the last step, I had stepped foot in the cafeteria.

The place was packed! There were juice boxes and leftover lunches all over the floor. But it didn't bother me one bit, I was used to it.

Suddenly, I felt someone bump into me and my jacket sleeve felt wet. I looked to the side and saw a small milk carton near my show. Milk was spreading under my shoes and on my jacket sleeve. I looked up and saw a small guy carrying a lunch tray in front of me. I suddenly felt anger surging up my chest.

"I'm sorry," the guy said.

"You did that on purpose?!" I growled at him. Before he could say anything, I had already flipped his lunch tray away. The boy gaped at his lunch, then at me.

"Well?!" I yelled at him.

"Hey, I said I'm sorry," he said defensively.

"Apology not accepted!" And with that my fist landed on his eye and I started to beat up his face. I heard him scream and struggling under me, but I didn't care. The others had already started gathering around us. Some tried pulling me off him, but I just shoved them to the side. They lost their balance and fell to the floor, on the pile of lunches and liquids.

Suddenly, I felt a strong grip on my arm and tugging me away. I tried fighting it but the hold was too strong and my arm was starting to hurt. Someone else pulled the boy under me away. I got a glimpse of his face. His face was bruised all over and his lips were cut severely and bled. He can barely open his eyes because of the black eye I gave him.

I snorted. He deserved it!

"Get up!" A voice said behind me. I got up but someone was still holding my arm. I fought it off and brushed my sleeve.

"What the fuck was that for?!" I yelled. The whole cafeteria gasped. Then it suddenly occurred to me that everyone had suddenly turned to stone and that I was yelling curses at the principal.

"Mr. Cooper, if you'll come with me to my room, please," Mrs. Harrison was struggling to keep her voice even. She left and I followed behind her, leaving the cafeteria in confusion and shock.
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"Mr. Cooper, if you would mind explaining the incident..." Mrs. Harrison started.

"Well, he spilled milk all over me," I explained. "On purpose."

"And then?" She inquired.

"What do you mean 'and then?? That's it!" I said.

"So you beat him up just because he accidentally spilled"

"He didn't 'accidentally' spilled his milk on my shirt! He did it on purpose!"

"Now, I'm pretty sure that's not what happened, Se"

"I'm serious!" I raised my voice again. "I was there when it happened, you know! I have eyes!"

"Yes, I know that, Seth, but"

"What now?! Here I am, telling you the truth, and all you can do is just sit there, and accuse me?!" I screamed at her, my hands curling into tight fists and my lips were pursed into an angry frown.

"Now, Seth, it's okay"

"No, it's not okay!!" I shouted in her face. I was pissed, really pissed. I kicked the tables and the chairs started slamming all the furniture in the room: the vases, the photo frames, all of her paperwork.

"Seth! STOP THIS!!" Mrs. Harrison yelled, getting out of her seat and gripped my arm again. But this time, I was already too mad to stop, I pushed her away to the wall.

Mrs. Harrison's secretary came in and tried to calm me down. Before I could even get her off me. I felt a painful pinch on my neck and I suddenly crumpled to the ground in pain. I winced in pain, clutching my neck with one hand.

"Works every time," I heard the secretary mutter as she helped Mrs. Harrison get back up on her feet. I heard the clobber of heels and Mrs. Harrison's shadow loomed over me. I sneaked a glance and saw her face. She was glowering at me.

"Seth Cooper, you are in a lot of trouble."
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Rachel: Thank you!